1 posts categorized "Cook County state's attorney"

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Lawyers from the white-shoe corporate firm of Sidley Austin probably don't find themselves in Cook County criminal court too often. And after Monday's events at 26th and California, they might want to tread carefully next time they are there.

The Chicago firm represents Northwestern University in its battle with Cook County prosecutors over the school's acclaimed Innocence Project, which conducts investigations to ferret out wrongful convictions.

The project's most recent effort focuses on 1978 shotgun killing of security guard that Northwestern journalism students believe unjustly sent a Harvey man to prison for life. The students filed a petition to overturn the conviction of Anthony McKinney.

Prosecutors have subpoenaed the students' recordings of witness interviews and also students' grades, e-mails and the class syllabus. On Tuesday, prosecutors unveiled bombshell allegations that the students paid two witnesses during their 2004 investigation.

Northwestern refuses to turn over most of the records. But the judge is not happy with the legal briefs seeking to quash the subpoena filed by Sidley partner Richard O'Brien and associate Linda Friedlieb.

Before Tuesday's court hearing even started, Judge Diane Gordon Cannon lambasted the Sidley lawyers for what she called the "dripping sarcasm" in the court papers they filed, according to this report filed by the National Law Journal.

The Sun-Times also mentioned the judge's anger. "If you think you can come into a court of law and treat it as an editorial, a sandbox or a bar, you're wrong," the judge said in court.

Following the hearing, O'Brien said he apologized to the judge, but he added that he stands by his advocacy.

Above the Law has additional coverage of the curious dispute, including a poll asking whether Sidley's brief was appropriate. As of 5 p.m., only 10 percent of the poll takers said the brief crossed the line.

About this blog

This blog is a chronicle of legal news and events of interest to the business community. Business reporter Ameet Sachdev will take you inside the courtroom as well as inside the gilded hallways of America’s largest law firms. He has covered the legal and business worlds for over 15 years. Have a comment or tip? Write to chicagolaw@tribune.com. Ameet Sachdev bioBusiness news emailed to you dailySubscribe to BizWrap